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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Johnson Williams" <johnnywillis2@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 05 Jan 2006 11:18:04 +0000
Subject: URGENT REPLY NEEDED

Dear Sir/Madam,

Complement of the season to you.This mail will definitely be coming toyou as
a surprise, but I must crave your indulgence to introduce myself to you.

I am Mr.JOHNSON WILLIAMS,a Manager at Natwest Bank London,United
Kindom.However I got your contact through the International webdirectory.
During our ecentinvestigation,reconciliation and auditing of the bank's
account my department discovered adormant account with a huge amount of
Money Valued 10,600,000.00 (TEN Million, six hundred thousand,PoundsSterling
Only) that belongs to One of our late Customer MR. Schmuck,from
Beverwijk,Netherlands,who died with his family in a plane crash one years
ago. So the fund has been dormant in his account with my Bank without any
claim ofthe fund in our custody either from his Family or relation before
Our discovery to this development.

It is only a foreigner that can stand as a next of kin and it is upon this
discovery that I decided to contact you to collaborate with you to pull out
this dormant fund.In order
to avert this negative development. On behalf of my trusted colleagues we
now seek your permission to have you stand in as next of kin to Our late
Customer so that the fund will
be released and paid into your account as the beneficiary?s next of kin now
that the bank is still expecting a next of kin or relative of the deceased,
MR.Schmuck.

I could have done this deal alone but because of my position in this country
as civil servants, we are not allowed to operate a foreign account and that
would eventuall raise an eye brow on my side during the time of transfer
since i still work in this bank,this is the actual reason why i required a
second party or fellow who will work with me forward claims as the next of
kin and also provide either an existingbank account or to set up a new Bank
a/c immediately to receive this fund, even an empty a/c can also serve for
this purpose.

However, on smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to
40% of the total fund, while 10% will be set aside to take care of expenses
on both sides that may arise
during the time of transfer and also for telephone bills,and the remaining
50% will be for me.
What I want from you is for you to act as the deceased next of kin. I have
in my possession, all the necessary Documents to successfully accomplish the
operation. Bear in
mind that this proposal is 100% risk free. Further Information will be given
to you as soon as I receive your positive response. I suggest you get back
to me as soon as possible stating your wish.

Best Regards,
Mr. JOHNSON WILLIAMS
Natwest Bank,London.


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